Swine flu pandemic

Getty Images photo by Fabrice Coffrini

World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan (center) holds with Assistant Director General Keiji Fukuda a press conference on Monday in Geneva, after the WHO decided to declare a swine flu pandemic by raising its alert to the maximum level six. The WHO decided to declare its first influenza pandemic in 40 years after an emergency meeting of scientific experts on a swine flu outbreak which has hit 74 countries.

World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan (center) holds with Assistant Director General Keiji Fukuda a press conference on Monday in Geneva, after the WHO decided to declare a swine flu pandemic by raising its alert to the maximum level six. The WHO decided to declare its first influenza pandemic in 40 years after an emergency meeting of scientific experts on a swine flu outbreak which has hit 74 countries. (Getty Images photo by Fabrice Coffrini)

World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan (center) holds with Assistant Director General Keiji Fukuda a press conference on Monday in Geneva, after the WHO decided to declare a swine flu pandemic by raising its alert to the maximum level six. The WHO decided to declare its first influenza pandemic in 40 years after an emergency meeting of scientific experts on a swine flu outbreak which has hit 74 countries.